St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-06-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

whiten the greensward that stretches
around the Washington Monument
The troops are now all here who intend
cd to participate in the National Drill
and they represent the Alabama, Ar
kansas, Connecticut, Colorado, Dakota
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island
Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Washing
ton Territory and the District of Colum-
ola.
The Drill opened this morning, but
the day was consumed by some formal
ties such as naming the camp, issuing
orders, receiving the latest arrivals of
troops ETC., and this evening there was
a dress parade by all of the organiza-
tons encamped, but the competitive
drill begins tomorrow. The soldiers
here represent the flower of the Nation
al Guard of their States, and many of
the commands are noted for their ex-
cellent discipline, and won trophies in
state and interstate drills.
Such a camp has not been seen in
this country since the veterans of the
civil war broke their camp in '65. Now
the soldiers of the North, South, East
and West assemble in one camp and
contend in friendly strife for the tro-
phies of the peaceful drill ground.
THE week will be exceedingly lively in
Washington. 1t will be filled with
events, brilliant streets pageants, at
tractive drills, reviews and street
parades.
Washington can boast in superlative
Language of many things. 1t has the
largest public buildings, the most beau
iful streets, the widest and the smooth
est pavements, the finest public
grounds, the greatest number of shade
trees and fountains and statues, the
highest monument, and many other
things the most wonderful and best
and biggest of their kind, and now it
adds to the list the largest competitive
drill. Up to this time the greatest
gathering of the kind was at Camp
r. C. Drum in Mobile, two years ago,
but the National Drill exceeds that
more than three fold in the number of
military bodies that will take part.
The good people of Washington are
rejoicing that the order permitting the
sale of intoxicating liquors on the
drill ground has been revoked. The
oar privilege of the ground had been
sold by the Drill committee for 1900,
but it is settled that only temperance
drinks shall be dispensed at the refresh
ment counter under the grand stand
this week. The revocation of the pri-
vilege has been attributed to the intiu-
ence Of the President through the eff
forts of some ladies of the w. T. C..
IT,, who called upon to interfere, and
also to suggestion from the Commits
eioner of public grounds, to the effect
that the War Department, Ito which
the drill ground belongs) would be
e,ratified If the committee would ex-
clude intoxicating liquors. But from
whatever source the influence may
have come, most people were pleased
with final decision and action of the
National Drill Committee.
After the close of the Drill the Presi-
dent will take vacation Of about ten
days, accompanied by Mrs. Cleveland,
Colonel Lamont and his family. They
will go to Saranac Lake, New York,
where the fishing is said to be good at
this season. 1t is said they will go on
The second of June, which is the ami
versary Of the Presidents marriage.
Doubtless he feels the need of rest, and
the event could not, probably, be cele-
brated in way more agreeable to him.
The financial situation has been de-
great deal of the Presidents
time and attention of late, as indeed, it
is the most important question now
before him. On last Wednesday night
ghe Secretary of the Treasury re-
NAMED at the White House until two
o'clock in the morning, talking over the
matter with him. He is being urged by
he advocates of tariff reduction to call
nm extra session of. Congress early in
the fall for the purpose Of considering
revenue measures. But Secretary
Fairchild is so safe and conservative
manager that there can be no real cause
Of alarm concerning the stringency of
the mony market, whether Congress is
specially convened or not Besides the
powers are sufficient, under
Existing lawsto enable him to ward off
my threatened danger. In the worst
that can be imagined he is
at liberty to step into the open market
md buy bonds for Government ac-
count.